Finally Got Started - Thank You BiggerPockets!

[Conner Parks]

My bIggest hope in wrItIng thIs Is to Inspire others out tgere to get started. Three years ago I went down a personal finance rabbit hole. I was a senior in college studying business management, evaluating my personal financial situation, and determined to be a wise steward of my first paycheck after I graduated, knowing I’d be climbing my way out of about $20,000 of student debt and several grand in auto loans. WhIle searchIng for somethIng productIve to lIsten to on a jog I found the bIggerpockets podcast. Ive learned more from BP than I ever dId In college. Despite math, my wife and I made the personal choice that we’d pay off our student and car loans before we got started. Fast forward three years later we paid everything off and saved $20,000. Decided against investing in our backyard here in Hawaii in hopes of starting small and building a replicable process. Just as we started exploring out of state options with several realtors and turnkey companies, @davidgreene released his investing out of state book. Following his advice the best we could, we found a rent ready home in Georgia that slightly exceeded the 1% rule and pulled the trigger. Here’s the numbers: They were asking 85k, we got it for 80k, appraised for 90k listed for rent at 950 to test the market. Rental comps going for 875. Shout out to my realtor Shaine Cobb with better homes and gardens for patiently helping me through the process. My colleague Stephen Thomas for acting as my accountability partner as we both did our first deal during the same time frame. And my wife for the support. The best part of it all is we just found out we’re having a baby girl early next year and we added $100 automated principal payment each month to our 30yr fixed mortgage so that it amortizes when she turns 18 as @brandonturner suggests. I’m so grateful for bIggerpockets and the community it’s formed to inspire and support me through this journey. Next year I hope to do my first BRRR! Best wishes, Conner Parks